"It's a Mine!"

Aboard the USS Towers DDG 9 - 1988 - Going into the Persian Gulf from the North Arabian Sea.

A lookout spots a metallic object floating in the water. We get closer, it's black and appears to be a 55-gallon drum.

It could be a crudely made mine placed by the Iranians. A potential danger to commercial shipping, so the ship goes to general quarters - seems we're going to 'take this thing out'.

We had already set up several additional machine gun posts along the sides of the ship and all were quickly manned. I was at the ASROC deck gun station on the Port side. We slow and the "mine" is going to pass about 30 yards off our port side. We're told to standby to open fire on the object.

Now, I'm thinking if this is a mine and we blow it up 30 yards from the ship, aren't we all at risk of being hurt? Or the ship damaged? But, as you know... it wasn't my call!

We get the order to fire on the object. (somewhere I have pics of this but I have to find them)

We shoot who knows how many rounds into that thing... After about 10-15 seconds of gunfire the cease fire order comes....

Seems we've turned a floating hollow drum into a colander and it's sinks.

Not a mine - but it sure did break up the monotony of sweeping sand off the ship every couple hours.

We never know when da heroes obstacles are going to show up in our path. Shooting them full of holes - figuratively - is always an option.  In life, finding ways to deal with them are probably the better option. 

Memorial Day 2006

I've waited to start this blog until this weekend.
It will no doubt be filled with many funny stories - but let's never forget how blessed (or lucky) we are to be able to share ours. We wore - or still wear - the uniform, to think of how many others wore the same uniform and never had the chance to share their stories because they gave all to preserve our way of life. I'm, humbled by that thought - proud to have worn the uniform - yet somehow feel like I could have done more - because I was lucky enough to serve near the end of the Cold War, where not many shots were fired in anger.

That doesn’t mean people didn’t give their lives to keep us free. It happens more than Americans realize. We lose sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines to training, or small operations constantly. 

Because of that, if this blog had a theme song it would be Eternal Father, the Navy Hymn.

Take a minute - think about the price this nation has paid for freedom.

Enjoy your freedom - it's bought and paid for!